Physical Science

The proton is a subatomic particle, symbol p or p+, with a positive electric charge of +1e elementary charge and mass slightly less than that of a neutron. 

 

 

Different atoms have different numbers of protons; what makes an atom be a helium atom, or a gold atom, or an oxygen atom depends on how many protons it has, not what kind they are.

Protons make the nucleus, or center, of an atom.

 

Protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus. They group together in the center of the atom. The proton always has a "+", or positive, charge.